House Bill 256

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-69, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE EACH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO PROVIDE ANTI-BULLYING AWARENESS TRAINING TO ITS LICENSED AND NONLICENSED EMPLOYEES DURING ITS TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR BEFORE THE START OF EACH ACADEMIC TERM; TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONDUCT AT LEAST ONE INFORMATIVE ASSEMBLY DURING THE ACADEMIC TERM ON BULLYING AND ITS NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS AT EACH SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT, WHICH IS AGE AND GRADE APPROPRIATE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-11-69, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-11-69. (1) Before December 31, 2010, each local school district shall include in its personnel policies, discipline policies and code of student conduct a prohibition against bullying or harassing behavior and adopt procedures for reporting, investigating and addressing such behavior. The policies must recognize the fundamental right of every student to take reasonable actions as may be necessary to defend himself or herself from an attack by another student who has evidenced menacing or threatening behavior through bullying or harassing.

(2) (a) Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, each local school district, before the start of each academic term, shall provide anti-bullying awareness training to its licensed and nonlicensed employees during its teacher professional development seminar. The training shall be used for the purpose of better enabling employees to detect bullying and harassing behavior of students and other school employees, in addition to providing the proper procedure for documenting and reporting any violations of bullying witnessed or subjected to while under employment with the school district.

(b) Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, each local school district, during the academic term, shall conduct at least one (1) informative assembly on bullying and its negative implications at each school in the district which is age and grade appropriate.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013.